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to your credit； you were never more mistaken in your life。〃
At this assurance she became more calm。
〃I know you dislike me most heartily；〃 Van Berg continued； 〃but
you have less reason to do so than you think…〃
〃I have good reason to dislike you。 You despise me； and now that
I have been such a coward you are comparing me with Miss Burton
who acted so differently yesterday。〃
〃I have not even thought of Miss Burton；〃 protested Van Berg； at
the same time conscious； now that her name had been recalled to his
memory； that she would have acted a much better part。 〃I am only
sincerely glad that our necks were not broken； and I hope that you
have not suffered any severe bruises。 As to my despising you； if
you will honor me with your acquaintance you may discover that you
are greatly in error。〃
〃Then you truly think that we have been in danger？〃 she asked；
wiping her eyes。
〃Most assuredly。 When you come to think the matter over calmly；
you will realize that we were in very great danger。 I think the
affair has ended most happily rather than absurdly。〃
〃Really； sir； when I remember how the 'affair；' as you term it；
actually did end； I feel as if I never wished to see you again。〃
〃Miss Mayhew； I appeal to your generosity。 Was I to blame for
that which was so disagreeable to you？ Surely you will not be so
unfair as to punish me for what neither you nor I could help。 I
think fate means we shall be friends； and has employed this unexpected
episode to break the ice between us。 If you are now sufficiently
composed I will assist you to alight； in order that the driver；
who is approaching； may be relieved of all fears on our account。〃
〃Oh； certainly。 As it is； I suppose he will have a ridiculous
story to tell。〃
〃There is nothing that he； or the others who are following him can
tell； save that the horses ran away and that we most fortunately
escaped all injury。 Ah！ I see that you are a little lame。 Please
take my arm； the hotel is but a quarter of a mile away。 Or perhaps
you would prefer that I should send the driver for a carriage。 You
could wait in yonder cottage； or here； in the shade of the trees。〃
〃I am not very lame； and if I were I would not mind it。 My wish is
that the horrid affair may occasion as little remark as possible。
I can reach my room by a side entrance； and so come quietly down
to dinner。 I suppose that I must take your arm since I cannot walk
very well without it。〃
They therefore turned their backs on the breathless driver and his
eager questions； and proceeded slowly towards the hotel。 After a
brief examination of the shattered stage； the man ran panting past
them in search of his horses； and they were again left alone。
Chapter X。 Phrases too Suggestive。
For a few moments Miss Mayhew and Van Berg walked on in silence；
each very doubtful of the other。 At last the artist began：
〃I am well aware； Miss Mayhew； that this unexpected episode and
this enforced companionship give me no rights whatever。 I do not
propose to annoy you； after seeing you safely to the hotel； by
assuming that we are acquainted； nor do I intend to subject myself
to the mortification of being informed publicly； by your manner；
that we are not on speaking terms。 I would be glad to have this
question settled now。 I ask your pardon for anything that I may
have said or done to hurt your feelings； and having thus gone more
than half…way it would be ungenerous on your part not to respond
in like spirit。〃
〃You apologize； then？〃
〃No； I ask your pardon for anything that may have hurt your feelings。〃
〃You have said very disagreeable things about me； Mr。 Van Berg。〃
〃I did not know you then。〃
〃I do not think you have changed your opinion of me in the least。〃
〃I evidently have a much higher opinion of you than you of me； and
I am seeking your acquaintance with a persistence such as I never
manifested in the case of any other lady。 Thus the odds are all
in your favor。 Having been so unexpectedly thrown together…〃
〃'Thrown together；' indeedMr。 Van Berg； you ARE mocking me；〃 and
her eyes again filled with tears of vexation。
〃I assure you I am not；〃 said Van Berg earnestly。 〃I could not be
so mean as to twit you with an accident which you could not help；
and with an act which was wholly involuntary on your part。 Can we
not both let by…gones by by…gones and commence anew？〃
Miss Mayhew bit her lip and hesitated a few moments。
〃I think that will be the better way；〃 she said。 〃We will both let
by…gones； especially this ridiculous episode in the stage。 I'll
put you on your good behavior。〃
〃Thank you； Miss Mayhew。 I would take our late risk twenty times
for such a result。〃
〃I would not take it again on any account whatever。 Please refer
to it no more。 I declare； there comes Cousin Ik and Mr。 Burleigh
to meet us。 Was one's fortune ever so exasperating！ Ik will teaze
me out of all comfort for weeks to come。〃
〃Say little and leave all to my discretion；〃 said Van Berg； reassuringly；
〃and； by the way； you might limp a little more decidedly；〃 which
she immediately did。
〃My dear Miss Mayhew； I trust you are not seriously hurt；〃 began
Mr。 Burleigh while still several yards off。
Stanton's face was a study as he approached。 Indeed he seemed half
ready to explode with suppressed merriment； but before he could
speak a warning glance from Van Berg checked him。
〃Miss Mayhew might have been seriously and possibly fatally injured；〃
said the artist gravely； 〃had it not been for her self…control。
Although it seemed that the stage would be dashed to pieces every
moment； I told her that in my judgement it would be safer to remain
within it than to spring out upon the hard and stony road； and I
am very glad that the final event confirmed my opinion。〃
As they were by this time near to the hotel； others who had been
alarmed by seeing the horses tearing up to the stable door； now
hastily joined them； and last； but not least； Mrs。 Mayhew came
panting upon the scene。 Van Berg felt the hand of the young lady
trembling in nervous apprehension upon his arm； from which； in her
embarrassment； she forgot to remove it。 But the artist did not
fail her； and in answer to Mr。 Burleigh's eager questions as to
the cause of the accident； explained all so plausibly； and in such
a matter…of…fact manner as left little more even to be surmised。
His brief and prosaic history of the affair concluded with the
following implied tribute to his companion； which still further
relieved her from fear of ridicule：
〃Miss Mayhew；〃 he said； 〃instead of jumping out； after the frantic
terror…blinded manner of most people； remained in the stage and
so has escaped； I trust； with nothing worse than a slight lameness
caused by the violent motion of the vehicle。 I will now resign her
to your care； Mr。 Stanton； and I am